Shop Talk Briefs

Optimum Lightpath, a division of Cablevision Systems Corp., launched the Optimum Lightpath Referral Partner Program to sell Metro Ethernet services in the metro New York area.Targeted to VARs,IT and telecom consultants, Web design firms and systems integrators, the program pays commissions equal to either one or two months of the customers bill, up to a maximum of $25,000 per sale to partners referring new business.

Internet-based business communications services provider Aptela Inc. announced Art MacDowell, former vice president of wholesale services for Sprint Nextel, has joined the firm as vice president of alternate channels. In this role, MacDowell assumes responsibility for Aptelas channel sales including wholesale, VAR and master agent programs. MacDowell spent more than 17 years at Sprint where he held a succession of senior management positions that focused on voice and data service growth for multinational accounts and on revenue growth in eastern United States.

Hosted VoIP provider AccessLine Communications introduced its SmartVoice Service in New York in June and said it has partnered with solutions provider Gotham Telecom, making it an authorized dealer for all of New York. SmartVoice now is available in a number of New York regions, including all five boroughs, Westchester County, Rockland County, Nassau County and Suffolk County, and in most of Albany, Buffalo and Poughkeepsie. SmartVoice targets SMBs by combining local, long-distance and toll-free phone service; it does not require users to buy additional phone equipment.

EchoStar Communications Corp. announced it has become a subagent for Get Connected Inc. and will embed GetConnecteds transaction processing platform into its partner portal, enabling DISH Network resellers to offer and order DSL services. Among GetConnecteds DLS supplier partners are AT&T Inc., Covad Communications Group Inc., Cox Communications Inc., EarthLink Inc., Qwest Communications International Inc. and Time Warner Cable. GetConnecteds platform also is used by retailers such as AOL LLC, Best Buy, Circuit City Stores Inc., Dell Inc. and RadioShack Corp. to automate order management of video, voice, data and entertainment services, including DISH Network.

Broadview Networks Holdings Inc. announced in late June it has agreed to acquire ATX Communications Inc., creating a CLEC serving 75,000 business customers and 25,000 residential customers and representing more than 600,000 access line equivalents.The combined company, which will be privately held, will generate annual revenue of approximately $400 million, and will use a network of 10 legacy and next-gen switching centers and more than 230 colocations. Details of the transaction were not released, but it is expected to close in the fall, subject to regulatory approvals.

Integrated communications provider PowerNet Global Communications (PNG) announced its plans to target the business market. To serve the commercial market, PNG now offers customized business applications utilizing its own VoIP network, traditional TDM delivered via several carrier partners, or a combination of both. Since November, PNG has more than doubled its commercial sales staff, and plans to continue adding personnel. PNG currently operates as a $100 million dollar company with 1,500 agents and more than 400,000 customers nationwide.

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